Jew&#39;s-harp



G. B. DUSINBERRE.

JEWS HARP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1921.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. DUSINBERRE, OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GLENORA HARMONICACOMPANY, INC., A'CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

JEWS-HARP.

Application filed April 26, 1921.

T (t! M'HILO'Y'M it 272 my concern Be it known that I, Groizcn l5.DUSIN- minim, a citizen of the United States, and a icbldfillb o1 lmira,county of Uhemung and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Jews- Harps, of which the following is a full andcomplete specification, reference being had therein to the appendeddrawings.

My invention is addressed to the provision of an improved musicalinstrument of the type commonly known as the ews-harp and which reliesfor its production of sound upon a reed vibrating in the space betweentwo rigid members. It is an object of my invention to improve thematerial of which 'ame of the instrument is made. Acto my invention, theframe constructed of sheet metal which insures the requisite rigidityand at the same time materially reduces the weight of the finishedinstrument.

It is likewise an object of my invention to provide reinforcing meansintegral. with the frame and serving to render the latter both rigid andadapted for cmivenicnt handling by the player.

It is a further object of my invention to mount the vibrating reed'inthe framein a 1. w and improved fashion.

Other objects of my invention will be evident from the followingspecitiction, due reference being had to the ccompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. l is a perspective view;

hi 2 is an end view, and

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of one form of my invention.

Musical instruments of this class are generally made of cast metal.lVhen so constructed the intsrument while rigid is quite heavy and aptto be cumbersome. It is also found that inequalities or irregularitiesof shape result from casting the frame.

I have found that material improvement is obtained in constructing theframe of the iews-lnirp from sheet metal by stamping operations. V7 henthis is done, the sheet metal blank is uniform in thickness and light inweight. When given the requisite shape by stamping the articles areuniform and conform closely to the pattern desired.

One form of my invention has been illustrated in the drawings andconsists in a Serial No, 464,628.

frame 4 made from a sheet metal blank. This blank is stamped into finalform as shown in the drawings. The ends 5 and 6 of the frame are stampedinto V-sha-ped cross section, clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The bight ofthe frame connecting the ends and 6 is elliptical in shape as shown in7. While this bight may be given a hollow V- shaped cross sectionsimilar to the ends 5 and 6, yet it is preferred to make this bight asillustrated in circular cross-section. This is shown in Fig. 2.

Running across the major axis of the elliptical bight is an integralreinforcement S. This member 8 which may be termed a cross plate isstruck up from the blank dur-v ing the stamping operation. It forms afinger rest for the operator and serves to maintain the parts of theframe rigid. The cross plate 8 is lifted above the upper plane of thefinger rest slightly as in Fig. 2 for the purpose of avoiding anyinterference with the vibrating reed.

A slot is cut in the inner wall 9 of the frame and registers with acorresponding slot in the outer wall 10 of the frame, both slots beingat rightangles to the axis of the cross plate 8. This brings the slotsalong the minor axis of the ellipse and opposite the opening between theends 5 and 6.

A. reed 11 of spring metal is provided with a tapered end 12. Thistapered end is driven through the slots in the walls 9 and 10 of theframe and frictionally held in position. The opposite portion of thereed 11 extends along the minor axis of the elliptical frame and istapered to conform closely to the inner edges of the ends 5 and 6. Theend of the reed may have parallel instead of tapered sides, and be heldin two slots of equal size and upset to engage the reed. The extremityof the reed 11 is bent substantially at right angles to form a member 13adapted to be engaged by the finger of the operator for the purposes ofsetting the reed in vibration. The tapered edges of the reed arepreferably sharpened to form edges 14 and 15 as shown in the drawings.

It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that the stamping operation will leavethe ends 5 and 6 with the sharp edges opposite the sharpened edges ofthe reed and closely parallel therewith.

In using this instrument the cross plate 8 serves a dual function inthat it provides a rest for the fingers of the player and at the sametime prevents them from interferinq with the vibration of the reed. Theends 0 and 6 are, of course, held against the teeth of the player andfree from vibration. its the reed set in motion its sharpened edges passclose to the acute edges of the ends 5 and 6. This movement serves veryeffectually to up musical. vibrations, the pitch of which dependent uponthe formation of the oral cavity by the player and is varied by themovement of his tongue. The mode of seating the end of the reed in thetwo opposite walls of the handle definitely holds the reed in the properposition between the ends of the frame.

It will be evident from the above description that my invention providesan instrument which is adapted for economical manufacture withdimensions and proportions conforming closely to predeterminedmeasurements. It also accomplishes a saving in material and is simple inassembly while the cross plate serves to promote the rigidity of the,frame.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention, it will beapparent that many changes may be made in material and structure fromthat disclosed and yet within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, two arms extendingtherefrom, a reed secured b one end to the frame and lying between t earms, and a cross-plate integral with said frame.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, two arms extendingtherefrom, a reed secured by one end to the frame and lying between thearms, and a cross-plate integral with said frame and at right angles tothe reed.

3.. In a device of the class described, a. frame, two arms extendingtherefrom, a reed secured by one end to the frame and lying between thearms, and a cross-plate integral with said frame and lying out of theplane of the reed.

4. In a device of the class described, a

recessed frame, two recessed aans extending therefrom, and a reedsecured by one end to the frame and lying between the arms.

5. In a device of the class described, a recessed frame, two recessedarms extending therefrom, a reed secured by one end to the side walls ofthe frame, and a plate on said frame at an angle to said reed.

6. In a device of the class described, a sheet metal frame of U-shapedcross section, two arms extending therefrom and being V-shaped in crosssection, a reed secured by on end to the side walls of the frame andvibrating between the arms.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame, two channelled armsextending therefrom, said arms having sharp inner edges, a thin reedsecured by one end to the frame and co-operating with the arms betweenthe sharp edges thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, a recessed frame, two armsextending there from, a thin reed cooperating with the arms between theedges, a slot in the inner and in the outer side walls of the frame toreceive one end of the reed and maintain the same in alignment betweenthe arms.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

GEORGE B. DUSINBERRE.

